Assisting Nigerians to own the constitution

At a one-day interactive session in Lagos, stakeholders highlight the role of editors in the ongoing constitution amendment process which will assist Nigerians to truly own the constitution. Augustine Avwode reports

The ongoing constitution amendment process imposes obligations on editors. This was the consensus of stakeholders at a one-day dialogue with editors in Lagos this week. With last Thursday’s public hearing by the Senate Committee on the amendment in Abuja and similar hearing planned for the six geo-political zones in the months ahead, the process leading to the amendment of the constitution has begun.

With 231 memos on several vexed issues already submitted to the Senate Committee, the UNDP’s Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity designed the dialogue to mobilize the Nigerian editors for the task of re-awakening the media to its critical responsibility of promoting public awareness and active participation in the amendment process.

In her welcome address, the UNDP country director Mrs Ade Letkoetje acknowledged the critical role of the media. Said she: “The media plays a critical role in keeping citizens engaged in governance, and a healthy political process requires pluralism and open communication by providing a vibrant and free environment for communication.

“ The government and the people of Nigeria have identified the amendement of the constitution as a national priority to strengthen their democracy and the UNDP, through its Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) project is proud to support the process. We are dedicate to deepening democracy in Nigeria”, she noted.

According to her: “Editors are critical media constituents. We also recognize the role of the media in raising the level of awareness and the enlightenment of the public, the broadening of civic participation in the democratic process will be realised as your work has the capacity to inspire more Nigerians to participate in the amendment process, contribute ideas into the review and assist Nigerians to take ownership of their nation’s constitution.

“It is, therefore, critical that editors make the constitution amendment process a top priority for national discussion and debate in public and private media so that all Nigerians can effectively engage in the process. I urge you in your role as gatekeepers, to advocate for the inclusion of issues that address the needs of Nigerians and to keep the issue of the constitution amendment on the front burner”, she advised.

National President, Nigeria Guild of Editors Mr Gbenga Adefaye in his remark described the dialogue as a “great opportunity” saying, “if we have a good constitution and a free press, the country will be the better”.

Adefaye said the media was the biggest victim when Nigeria was ruled by means other than democracy and that was why the media fought for the enthronement of democracy and therefore, it is incumbent on the media to make the present democratic experience work properly. He, however, challenged those present to read the constitution so as to fully appreciate the enormity of the challenge before the media in the process of amending the constitution.

He raised a poser on the plight of many Nigerians, who after spending many years in a particular area in a country that is 52 years old, are still regarded as “squatters” in their own country.

“There are issues in the country that require our attention. Therefore, we cannot just sit back and not take the amendment serious. Then, again, I think it is very important that we put in the constitution, expressly, the freedom of the press. These are just some of the many germane issues at hand,” he stated.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, who was represented by Mrs Stella Abumeren, noted that the organizers of the programme must have taken into consideration the pivotal role of the editor in nation building, hence the theme of the dialogue “The editor and the Constitution amendment process”.

The minister said the 1999 Constitution, as the ground norm of all the laws in the country, provides the basis for all other laws and that is why any law that is inconsistent with the constitution shall remain void to the extent of its inconsistency. This, he said, makes the business of amending the constitution a very serious business.

He pointed out that Chapter 2, Section 31 of the Constitution imposes a duty and obligation on the media in shaping the consciousness of the nation and so empowers it to at all times hold the government accountable to the people.

The minister stressed that an editor’s action can “contribute meaningfully to the development of the society or serve as a catalyst for chaos”. He advised that such powers should be deployed for the stability and progress of the nation.

“As the Fourth Estate of the realm, you are critical stakeholders not only to hold but also to help government to be accountable to the people. And one way of doing this is by creating necessary awareness in the ongoing amendment process. ”, he stated.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, while thanking the UNDP and everyone present, noted that all the Presidency needed was a partnership with the media. He stated that the process of a constitutional amendment is not only dynamic but also an evolutionary one.

Abati told the gathering: “For me, what I consider critical is to draw attention to what the constitution amendment process is not. Many people have continued to insist that the amendment process is a President Goodluck Jonathan’s process. It is not! It is not the duty of the executive to amend the constitution; it is the duty of the National assembly and the Nigerian people to do that.”

He spoke further: “But that there are people who believe that the whole idea is about President Jonathan is unbelievable. And that is why we believe that the media is very key in this assignment. People believe what they read and hear. They rely on you for information and direction and for Nigerians in particular, the media has always played a very important role and being in the fore front of the making of the Nigerian nation and the Nigeria state. That is why as journalists, we hold a major responsibility to set the agenda correctly to ensure that Nigerians are the ones who determine what will come out of the entire process”.

The dialogue had two sessions. While Mr Tony Iredia was the chairman of the first session, the Editor of The Guardian Martins Oloja chaired the afternoon session. The first paper was presented by the Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor Festus Okoye who examined “The Nigeria Constitution: The journey so far” and the second paper by Director of the International Press Centre Mr Lanre Arogundade.

At the end of the day, it was generally agreed that editors should take more than just a passing interest in the constitution amendment process and assist Nigerians to be proud of the outcome of the process and fully claim ownership of the constitution.